Israel purchased F-35 fighter jets from the United States and accepted delivery of the first jets in December 2016.  Earlier today, during the IAF’s International Conference, Israel Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin announced that Israel has become the first to use F-35’s in actual combat.

“We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East. It has become part of our operational capabilities. We are the first to attack using the F-35 in the Middle East and have already attacked twice on different fronts.”

“Beyond the satisfaction from the Adir’s performance and abilities, the psychological aspect carried a lot of weight too.”
~Maj-Gen Amikam Norkin
“With C4I technology integrated into the Adir, the F-35 is particularly critical to countering Hezbollah’s vast rocket threat through rapid identification and prioritization of targets for the IAF.”  [The jets] “can fly in what we call ‘beast mode,’ carrying up to 18,000 pounds of internal and external ordnance, in a mix that can include 5,000-pound-class weapons.”
~Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO Marillyn A. Hewson

Read the story and hear Maj-Gen Norkin’s remarks in this Jerusalem Post article: IAF Commander: Israel First to Use F-35 Jet in Combat.